With four players already signed to first team contracts, the Dynamo Academy has proven to be one of the more fruitful youth development programs in MLS.

The 2011 offseason has brought many changes to a Dynamo defense that ranked toward the bottom of the league in 2010.

Although head coach Dominic Kinnear was impressed with trialist JeVaugh Watson during his three-week trial, Dynamo president Chris Canetti said it is unlikely the club will offer the Jamaican a contract.

The play-in draw for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was announced today and after winning a coin toss to determine home-field advantage, the Dynamo will host Sporting KC at a time and date to be announced in the coming weeks.

After suffering a pulled hamstring against Toronto FC, Dynamo forward Brian Ching said he will "absolutely" be ready for the March 19 opener against the Philadelphia Union.

Dynamo Academy goalkeeper Fernando Piña was one of a hand-full of MLS academy players representing their country in the CONCACAF U-17 qualifying tournament. With three goals in overtime, the U.S. U-17s defeated Canada's U-17s to win the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.

In one of the more bone-headed stories in soccer this year, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole decided it was a good idea to play around with an air rifle at the club's training ground last week.